Interactive Cards

Sometimes it's fun to make (and receive) interactive cards ... ones that you push, pull, fold or otherwise manipulate.

As soon as I saw this particular stamp (part of the oh-so-sweet "Fox & Friends" from the Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue), I thought "spinner card".

After all, what monkey can resist twirling around ... and he's just so darned cute!

I used the same layout as this card from a while back, and whipped this up in almost no time at all!

The only stumbling block was that the only circle punch that fit the monkey stamp was my largest 1-3/4" circle, so I had to drag out my new Circle Scissor Plus to make the So Saffron circle to layer it onto. I can see I need a little more practice with that gadget *g*.

The best thing about making spinner cards is they are a snap to make and then you get to play with them for half an hour afterwards!

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:
Stamp/s: Fox & Friends, Circle Circus
Ink: So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Other: Word Window Punch, 1-3/4" Circle Punch, Circle Scissor Plus

And because I liked the monkey so much, I made this card a couple of days later. This little guy fits neatly into the 1-1/4" circle punch.

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:
Stamp/s: Fox & Friends, Vintage Vogue
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive
Cardstock: Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Other: Word Window Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch

Then, I must have been on an owl-frenzy, because I found a pattern for this little guy yesterday and quickly put him together last night. Shame I couldn't find any cute socks, and had to use a pair of mens' business socks *sigh*. But they were clean!

No Stampin' Up! products used, but isn't he so cute!

Another Medallion Card

Just to show you that a card doesn't have to be super-involved to be effective, here is something I whipped up the other night in about five minutes.

The Medallion is stamped with Ruby Red ink on Ruby Red cardstock to create a tone-on-tone effect.  What I like about this stamp is that it doesn't have to be centred on the cardstock panel to look good - in fact, it looks best if it's off-centre and partly off the card altogether.

The strip of Summer Sun cardstock was just an offcut from trimming the larger layer - I felt it kind of tied the greeting to the rest of the card.  That and I don't have any ribbon that colour (and didn't feel like colouring some white with a marker, which I would have done if I wasn't trying to make a "quick" card.

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:
Stamp/s: Medallion Background, Short & Sweet
Ink: Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip
Other: Small Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch

Clear Mount Rubber Stamps

You  might remember I posted a few days ago about the new Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue, and how the the stamps are now available as unmounted as well as wood-mounted?  I decided to try out the new Clear Mount system and bought a few sets to see what it was like, and I have to say, I'm impressed.

The stamps are made of the same high quality red rubber and dense foam, with a static cling backing to adhere to clear acrylic blocks (available separately).  Because there's no wood in the package, the stamps are cheaper than their traditional counterparts, and are stored in cases similar in size to a DVD case.

The stamps come with index sheets which you can stick to the back of the stamp if you wish - the index sheets are backed with the same static cling film as the foam - which means that you can see right through your acrylic block and position your stamp exactly where you want it to go.

The cases have full sized images on the front, and the stamp set name and thumbnail sized images on the side so you can see at a glance what stamp is where.

While I love the traditional wood-mounted stamp, these are a really good alternative, especially if you have limited storage space.  And as I said, they're cheaper which means you can buy more LOL.

A Vintage Feel ...

When I first saw this stamp set, I just knew I had to have it - isn't it just gorgeous?

And when I saw this card on the talented Andrea Lowcock's blog, I knew I had to CASE it.  The design is just so simple and yet so darned pretty.

I changed it a little, opting to make the white card a layer on coloured cardstock (looooove this new Rich Razzleberry colour!) and adding a strip of Old Olive to lift the edges out a little.  And you can't really tell from the photo, but I have also used the Very Vintage wheel along the very bottom of the Razzleberry layer.

Now if you happen to be Gina reading this, and you find an envelope in your mail, pretend to be surprised, okay?  Big hugs and a belated happy birthday to you, my dear friend.

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:
Stamp/s: Vintage Vogue, Wonderful Favourites
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive 
Cardstock: Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Whisper White
Other: Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel

Gotta Love New Stuff!

Aaaaah, that feeling when you get a box of goodies from a new catalogue ... love it!  I received my first big order from the new Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue this week, and almost didn't know where to start.

Finally I decided quick and simple would be best.  This new "Medallion" stamp is just gorgeous!  I honestly wasn't sure that I liked it when I first saw it, but after a quick look around the web at the way other people have used this stamp, I decided it was something I definitely had to add to my collection.

This card was inspired by this gorgeous creation - in fact, this was the card which finally convinced me I had to have the stamp.  I made a few changes, using glossy card instead of the shimmery white which isn't available in Australia, and testing out my new Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder on the strip along the bottom.

And have a look at this fabulous colour- new to Stampin' Up! Australia - Rich Razzleberry.  When this deep magenta colour was released in the States last year I was distraught - it's one of my favourite colours, and with the catalogue year being restructured, I was sure we would miss out on it.  But no, Stampin' Up! have elected to release three of the current US In Colors in the Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue, and this is one of them.  The other two, which I haven't got yet, are Melon Mambo (a bright pink) and Soft Suede, which is almost a coffee colour.

Here's a couple of closeups, one showing the embossed dots across the Razzleberry strip,and the other the layered centre of the Medallion.

If you would like to see some more of the great new items now available from Stampin' Up!, contact me to book your next workshop, or you could even drop by and I can show you a few things *g*.

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:
Stamp/s: Medallion Background, Warm Words
Ink: Versamark, Rich Razzleberry, Sahara Sand
Cardstock: Rich Razzleberry, Glossy White, Whisper White
Other: 1-3/4" Circle Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch, Large Oval Punch, Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder

Nifty Cut Out Card

I was browsing around the web the other night, and came across this card, which I thought was such a clever idea I had to sit down and try it out.

How fortunate I now have the Big Shot to play with, and a Top Note die.

The technique itself isn't so hard, once you've marked everything up and done it once (my first effort was a disaster - serves me right for not reading and understanding the instructions properly, really). The hard part was working out how to decorate the card once I'd cut it out!

The flower (from Echoes of Kindness, a Level 2 hostess set) was stamped with black Stazon, then watercoloured using an Aqua Painter brush and inkpads.

The right edges of the cut out section were sponged to match the edges of the white piece.

I used the En Francais background stamp across the front (masking off the cut out piece) - because this stamp is narrower than the width of this card, I hid the join with a strip of Perfect Plum cardstock which I ran through the Big Shot with the Top Note die.

Here's another shot of the card from above, so you can see the construction a little better. This won't be the last time I try one of these!


Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:
Stamp/s: Echoes of Kindness (Hostess Set), En Francais
Ink: Black Stazon, Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Old Olive
Cardstock: Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Old Olive, Whisper White
Other: Big Shot, Top Note Die, 1/4" Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon, Aqua Painter

New Autumn-Winter Mini - with exciting news!

Yes, it's April 1 and you know what that means?!

Aside from April Fools' Day, that is.

A new Mini Catalogue from Stampin' Up!, that's what.

Because Stampin' Up! have decided to change the "catalogue year" to September-August (rather than April-March as it has been since they started out in Australia in 2006), they have brought out an interim Mini Catalogue to get us through the long winter months till September.

And there are some real treats in store for you!

In summary (quite a long summary, but there is a lot to tell you):

• Stampin' Up! now offer the Sizzix Big Shot die cutting system plus a selection of accessories (including some exclusive dies and embossing folders).
• The stamps in the Mini Catalogue (with one exception*) are now available as either the traditional wood-mounted stamps we have come to know and love, or the new Clear Mount system
• Three new punches are released in this catalogue, in a new flat body style you have to have! (and can I recommend the Bird Punch - it's to die for).
• This catalogue also has two new hostess sets, available only until the end of August or while stocks last.
• We have new colours to play with! Three of the current US "In Colors" have been released in Australia for the duration of this catalogue only - so if you have seen samples of Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo or Soft Suede on American blogs, you can now get your hands on these colours in ribbon, A4 card, ink and refills.

I have already shown you a couple of sneak previews of some of the things that the Big Shot can do here, here and here - and there's so much more! I can't wait until I get my first big order in so I can show you!

A word about the Clear Mount system ... don't imagine for a moment that this means that Stampin' Up! are going to release their stamps as clear polymer - the Clear Mount means exactly that - the mounts themselves are clear. The stamps are the made using same red rubber as always, however they are backed with a cling film which attaches temporarily to clear acrylic blocks (available in various sizes from Stampin' Up!). So your stamps store in a box the same size as a DVD case, and you can fit so many more on your shelves *g*.

*The exception is the Medallion stamp, which because of its size is only available wood mounted.

So contact me today for a copy of your Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue, and don't forget the best way to earn FREE goodies is to host your own workshop!